1955 Topps #165 Don Johnson
1955 Topps #165 Don Johnson
About Don Johnson
Donald Roy Johnson (1926-2015), a 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher from Portland, Oregon, was signed by the New York Yankees as a teenager after starring in Portland-area high school and American Legion ball. He reached the majors in 1947, winning his April 20 debut in relief of a 10-inning, 3-2 Yankee victory and posting a 4-3 record for that year's World Series champions. Over eight seasons he pitched for the Yankees (1947, 1950), St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, White Sox, and the 1955 Baltimore Orioles pictured on this high-number card, closing out with the 1958 Giants. His best year came in 1954 with Chicago, going 8-7 with a 3.12 ERA and finishing among the AL leaders in games, saves, and shutouts. He finished 27-38 with a 4.78 ERA and 262 strikeouts across 198 games, later winning the International League's top-pitcher award with Toronto in 1957. After baseball he drove a cab in Portland and survived being shot during a robbery.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
High Number (#161-210)
Series 2 (#161-210) shipped in the fall against the new football-card season, so retailers cut their orders and far fewer were printed. As a result the set's biggest high-number names - Roberto Clemente (RC), Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider - are tougher than low-number stars such as Williams, Robinson and Aaron.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 527 | 0 | 5 | 98 | 137 | 156 | 71 | 59 | 1 |
| SGC | 56 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 11 | 0 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-26. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8); totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1955 Topps Don Johnson card?
It is card #165 of 206 in the 1955 Topps set - Topps' first fully horizontal design. It pictures the Baltimore Orioles player.
Why is this card scarce?
It is in the 1955 Topps high-number series (#161-210), which shipped in the fall against the new football cards, so far fewer were printed - the scarcest run in the set.
Is the 1955 Topps Don Johnson valuable?
Value depends on grade and its scarce high-number status. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, PSA & SGC population reports, and Baseball-Almanac. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.